It manifests primarily as excessive dependence on their owner and is common in dogs that lack long-term solitary training. Essentially, it's a behavioral or physiological abnormality caused by excessive anxiety about being separated from their owner.
Symptoms include sensitivity to their owner's absence, destructive behavior, unusual urination and defecation, excessive barking, and licking. A veterinarian should be consulted to check for other medical conditions. Treatment options include gradual separation training, modified interaction methods, providing comfort toys, increased exercise, and environmental adjustments (such as leaving lights on or playing sounds). Socialization training or increased communication between pets and owners is also considered a way to alleviate anxiety.
Dogs with separation anxiety often exhibit the following typical symptoms:
- Nervousness and restlessness when their owner is away.
- Incessant barking when their owner is away and not at home.
- When their owner is away, they may chew on household items and furniture to relieve stress.
- Excessive anxiety can lead to uncontrollable urination and defecation in the home.
- Extreme anxiety can lead to obsessive behaviors, causing dogs to lick or bite themselves incessantly, resulting in hair loss or ulcers.
Reducing and Eliminating Symptoms
- Slowly Separate
To help your dog adjust to being alone, you should gradually separate them. Start by giving them a treat, then leave and close the door. Reappear a few minutes later. Even with such a brief separation, the dog will still bark and jump, as if its owner has returned from abroad.
This is crucial to teach the dog that it can function peacefully without its owner. Gradually increase the separation time until the dog can tolerate being away for an hour or two without being affected.
- Leaving the House
Once the dog has become comfortable with its absence for an hour or two, you can try leaving the house to see how it reacts. When starting training, you can leave the house up to 20 times a day. Initially, the dog will be enthusiastic, welcoming you like a god, but later, it will seem indifferent to where you've gone.
- Don't hold your dog.
When you're getting ready to go out, don't overdo it by hugging or coaxing your dog, as if you're parting forever. Simply tell your dog that you're going out and that you'll be back soon. Let your dog feel that leaving isn't a terrible thing.
- Give it treats.
Before you go out, give your dog some tasty treats, especially ones that it rarely gets to enjoy when it's with you. This way, your dog's anticipation for the treat may outweigh its longing for you.
If you can get some fake bones with a hole in the middle, smear them with something your dog likes, like peanut butter or cheese, before you go out. These "magic" toys will keep your dog chewing for hours, completely oblivious to where you've gone.
- Exercise your dog before you go out.
By the time your dog returns home, he'll have expended too much energy and may even be so exhausted he'll just want to fall asleep, leaving him with no energy to miss you.
- Train your dog.
Well-trained dogs are better able to control their emotions and are more confident. A confident dog is naturally less likely to be anxious. So, in your free time, you might want to spend some time raising your dog into a well-trained, excellent dog.
- Find a companion
Because dogs are social animals, finding a companion can greatly alleviate their longing for their owners. Many cases show that, in addition to finding a dog as a companion, a cat can also cheer them up.
- Light a light
If you're away at night, it's best to leave one or two small lights on so your dog feels like they're home.
- Turn on the radio
When you're out, turn on the radio to distract your dog and keep it focused on the noises outside. Turn on the radio to a program you often listen to and keep the volume at its usual level. This way, your dog won't be constantly guarding the door, waiting for the owner to park or walk by.
- Communicate
Believe it or not, scientists agree that dogs are the best at understanding humans. While many animals have been shown to have higher IQs than dogs, no animal can surpass dogs in understanding human words, actions, expressions, and even emotions. Therefore, regular communication with your dog is not only necessary but also the most effective. Besides comforting your dog with food, toys, or playmates, communication is perhaps the simplest, most direct, and most equal approach, one your dog will readily accept. Share your stories, tell your dog about your plans, and offer encouragement and praise. This will further strengthen your bond with your dog and contribute to its physical and mental well-being.
